A nationwide pilot study on breast cancer screening in Peru.

Introduction: A high prevalence of advanced breast cancer (BC) is a common scenario in Latin America. In Peru, the frequency of BC at Stages III/IV is ≈50% despite implementation of a programme for breast cancer screening (BCS) along the country. We carried out a study to assess the feasibility and develop an instrument to evaluate the knowledge, barriers and perception about BCS in a nationwide pilot study in Peru among candidates for BCS. Methods: We conducted a systematic review of 2,558 reports indexed in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Medline-Ovid and EMBASE, regarding to our study theme. In total, 111 were selected and a 51-items survey was developed (eight items about sociodemographic characteristics). Patients were recruited in public hospitals or private clinics, in rural and urban areas of nine departments of Peru. Results: We surveyed 488 women from: Lima (150), Cajamarca (93), Ica (59), Arequipa (56), Loreto (48), Ancash (38), Junín (15), Puerto Maldonado (15) and Huancavelica (14); 27.9% of them were from rural areas. The mean of age was 53.3 years (standard deviation ± 9.1). Regarding education level, 29.8% had primary, 33.2% secondary and 37.0% higher education. In total, 28.7% of women did not know the term 'mammogram' and 47.1% reported never receiving a BCS (36.9% from urban and 73.5% from rural population). In women that underwent BCS, only 67% knew it is for healthy women. In total, 54.1% of patients had low levels of knowledge about risk factors for BC (i.e. 87.5% of women respond that injuries in the breast produce cancer). Cultural, economic and geographic barriers were significantly associated with having a mammogram where 56.9% of participants considered a cost ≤ 7 USD as appropriate. Mammogram was perceived as too painful for 54.9% of women. In addition, women with a self-perception of low-risk for BC and a fatalistic perception of cancer were less likely to have a BCS. Conclusion: We found that it is feasible to conduct a large-scale study in Peru. The results of this pilot study highlight an urgent need of extensive education and awareness about BCS in Peru.

Highlights of the 'I Congress ecancer Choosing Wisely' March 30 and 31, 2022 Santa Cruz, Bolivia.

The ecancer 'Choosing Wisely' conference was held for the first time in Latin America in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. The event had more than 150 registered attendees in addition to 22 speakers from different countries and different specialities in the field of oncology, who presented topics on prevention, oncological surgery, clinical oncology and palliative care, in order to demonstrate the current evidence of how to approach a patient in daily clinical practice based on the human resources, materials and drugs available, trying to offer the maximum benefit to the patient based on current scientific evidence. In addition to addressing issues of vital importance in breast cancer, during the 2 days of the event, updated information generated in recent years was presented, the results of which will change clinical practice. All the experts were in favour of developing strategies and methods that help us to properly select treatments to optimise resources and reduce the economic toxicity of the most modern and current treatments. This conference was an event of vital importance because it was the first face-to-face event for ecancer and the physicians after difficult years due to COVID-19.

Barriers in Latin America for the management of locally advanced breast cancer.

Breast cancer (BC) is a highly prevalent malignancy in Latin American women, most cases being diagnosed at locally advanced or metastatic stages when options for cancer care are limited. Despite its label as a public health problem in the region, Latin American BC patients face several barriers in accessing standard of care treatment when compared with patients from developed countries. In this review, we analyse the landscape of the four main identified barriers in the region: i) high burden of locally advanced/advanced BC; ii) inadequate access to medical resources; iii) deficient access to specialised cancer care and iv) insufficient BC research in Latin America. Unfortunately, these barriers represent the main factors associated with the BC poor outcomes seen in the region. Targeted actions should be conducted independently by each country and as a region to overcome these limitations and create an enhanced model of BC care.

Complicaciones postoperatorias en pacientes con hiperplasia benigna de próstata según técnica quirúrgica

RESUMEN Introducción: La hiperplasia benigna de próstata tiene elevada prevalencia en mayores de 50 años. En quienes fracasa o es mal tolerado el tratamiento médico, se plantea cirugía. Objetivo: Analizar las complicaciones postoperatorias en pacientes operados por hiperplasia benigna de próstata, según diferentes técnicas. Métodos: Se analizaron 161 historias clínicas de pacientes de 60 o más años de edad, con diagnóstico de hiperplasia benigna prostática, intervenidos quirúrgicamente con las técnicas: adenomectomía abierta transvesical, retropúbica y endoscópica monopolar. Resultados: La variación de la hemoglobina ≥ 3mg/dl, con la técnica transvesical fue 17 % y con la retropúbica 27,3 %. El tiempo de sondaje vesical ≤ 4 días en la transvesical un 48,9 %; > 4 a < 7 días en la retropúbica en 59,1 % y ≤ 4 días en la endoscópica monopolar 68,5 %. La estancia hospitalaria ≥ de 5 días, en la transvesical 51,1 % y en la retropúbica 59,9 %; de 1 a < 3 días, con la endoscópica monopolar, 58,7 %. La infección del tracto urinario fue más frecuente con la transvesical (31,9 %), la infección del sitio operatorio (17 %); mientras que la orquiepididimitis fue más frecuente en la retropúbica (40,9 %). El síndrome posresección transuretral prostática monopolar, se presentó en el 17,4 % de los operados. Conclusión: La adenomectomía retropúbica fue la técnica quirúrgica con mayor frecuencia de complicaciones y la resección transuretral la de menor frecuencia. La retención aguda de orina por técnica retropúbica, fue la complicación más frecuente.

ABSTRACT Introduction: Benign prostate hyperplasia has a high prevalence in people over 50 years of age. In those who fail or is poorly tolerated medical treatment, surgery is considered. Objective: To analyze postoperative complications in patients operated on for benign prostatic hyperplasia, according to different techniques. Methods: 161 medical records of patients 60 years of age or older, with a diagnosis of benign prostatic hyperplasia, who underwent surgery with the techniques: open transvesical, retropubic and monopolar endoscopic adenomectomy were analyzed. Results: The variation of hemoglobin ≥ 3mg / dl, with the transvesical technique was 17% and with the retropubic one 27.3%. The time of bladder catheterization ≤ 4 days in the transvesical one 48.9%; > 4 to <7 days in the retropubic in 59.1% and ≤ 4 days in the monopolar endoscopic 68.5%. The hospital stay ≥ 5 days, in the transvesical 51.1% and in the retropubic 59.9%; from 1 to <3 days, with the monopolar endoscopic, 58.7%. Urinary tract infection was more frequent with transvesical (31.9%), surgical site infection (17%); while epididymo-orchitis was more frequent in retropubic (40.9%). Monopolar prostatic transurethral post-resection syndrome appeared in 17.4% of those operated on. Conclusion: Retropubic adenomectomy was the surgical technique with the highest frequency of complications and transurethral resection the least frequent. Acute retention of urine by retropubic technique was the most frequent complication.